Megapixels Needed for a Print
Before you print, check that the photo has enough pixels for the size you want. This works out how many pixels a print needs across each side, and the megapixel total.
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How it works
Multiply each print side, in inches, by the dots per inch you want. That gives the pixels needed across each side.
Multiply the two pixel counts together and divide by one million to get megapixels. A crop keeps fewer pixels than the original, so check the cropped size, not the full photo.
Worked example
A print 12 in wide and 8 in tall at 300 DPI needs about 3,600 by 2,400 pixels, or 8.6 megapixels.
Questions
Is 300 DPI always needed?
No. It is a common target for prints held close. Large prints seen from a distance can use a lower number.
What if my photo has fewer pixels?
At the same DPI, the print will be smaller, or softer when printed larger. Trying a smaller size is a quick way to see the difference.
Do megapixels mean sharper photos?
Not alone. Megapixels count the pixels, and sharpness also depends on focus, light and the lens.
More like this
- Focal Length Needed CalculatorLens length to fit a subject in the frame.
- Print Size From Pixels CalculatorPrint size in inches and centimetres.
- DPI CalculatorPixels and print width give dots per inch.
- Aspect Ratio CalculatorWidth to height, and a new size at the same shape.
- Crop Resolution CalculatorPixels and megapixels left after a crop.
- Equivalent Exposure CalculatorShutter speed to match a new aperture.